Your Questions

Q

Hello, Mr Cornwell.

My own parents come from a "PP" background, and I believe you once knew my mother (Joy Wood, nee Cutmore), so I'm very interested in finding out more about your experiences, motivations and self.  Do you have any plans to publish an autobiography, or to authorise a biography in the near future?

Finally, a thank you for the grail quest and Arthurian series of books, which I've very much enjoyed.

Kind Regards, and best wishes for the new year.

Phil

Submitted January 9, 2013

A

No! Please, no! I didn’t enjoy the PP’s and writing about them only brings back memories that I would much rather forget, so I have no such plans. I did write an essay for Granta once called Cakes and Ale (also included in Sharpe's Story) which was mostly about my adoption and childhood, and, frankly, it was a miserable experience to write it.  So no more!

Q

Dear Bernard,

Big fan of your work which is usually very accurate so am puzzled by Navarre (beseiged by French king and  Douglas) being near Nornandy instead of either side of Pyrenees. Slip of the pen or did the kingdom reach so far north west in 14c?

Incidentally am descended wrong side of blanket from the Douglases who were apparently a bloodthirsty lot.

Celestria Hales

Submitted January 9, 2013

A

They were a very bloodthirsty lot, and yes, Navarre did reach that far in the 14th century.

Q

Dear Sir - much admired and enjoy reading your books here in sunny South Africa!

Just a question on the use of chariots in Britain after the Roman conquest? - Why did thier use demise? I understand that the Celtic tribes as well as the Romans make extensive use of chariots - but after the Roman retreat from Britain neither the Celts nor the Saxons seems to make use of it?

Regards,

Pieter

Submitted January 9, 2013

A

I don’t know is the easy answer. Plainly chariots are hopeless against well-disciplined infantry, and the Romans were certainly well-disciplined. Horses are, generally speaking, useless against well-disciplined infantry. I suspect that chariots simply proved hopeless when the enemy fought in close formation, something that, apparently, the native British didn’t do, but that’s all surmise. Certainly a chariot would be useless against a shield-wall; the horses wouldn’t charge home. Chariots must have been lethal against scattered men, but after the Romans most infantry fighting is close-formation.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I am a third year historian studying at the University of Exeter in the UK. Having read 'The Fort' you gave me inspiration for my final year dissertation topic, so firstly may I thank you for what was a tremendous read and is now proving an enjoyably challenging area of research. Incredibly not a single historian in our history department, naval or otherwise, had heard of this event and it has given me great joy tormenting my naval studies tutor on this matter!

I do have a particular question concerning the conclusion of the Penobscot Expedition. I understand that when writing a work of historical fiction certain facts and trends need to be adapted to tell a story. However I was wondering who you actually contribute blame to for the failure of the expedition, if any. And where you think the siege/battle could/should have been won?

As far as I know from my research Mowat's battle formation and cabling together has been replicated twice before 1779 and had never been defeated. With the constant offering of broadsides entering the bay and the potential loss of continental navy frigates do you think Saltonstall has been unfairly criticised for the defeat? Especially with Revere's woeful gunnery and Lovell's failure to carry out an effective siege?

Sorry to bombard you with so many questions but speaking to people with knowledge of this event has been hard to come by and I would really appreciate hearing any conclusions you came to whilst writing The Fort.

Once again thank you for the inspiration for my dissertation and for providing me with sufficient material to torment my naval tutor!

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Bradburne

Submitted January 9, 2013

A

My own view is that Lovell is to blame!  He was a terrible leader, ignoring every sensible suggestion, and allowing his men to degrade into a depressed rabble. There’s no doubt in my mind that a determined attack on the fort in the first week would have overrun the defences easily (and General McLean appeared to believe the same), but Lovell was too frightened to try. As for Saltonstall, well plainly he’s a jackass, but he could have overwhelmed the three Royal Navy sloops easily, but he was surely right in thinking that such an operation would have been needlessly bloody and ineffective if Lovell did not neutralize the guns in the fort at the same time. So the Americans were hampered by lousy command, a complete lack of co-operation between the navy and army, and a general incompetence (of which Revere is a prime example). The British were in a horrible position, but had superb leadership, extremely effective co-operation between soldiers and sailors, and proved more than competent, and that was enough to turn back what should have been an easy success for the rebels. It’s an interesting campaign, mainly because it illustrates just how important leadership and competence are. In the end the Americans put all the blame on Saltonstall because it was politically convenient to do that – if the Massachusetts men had admitted to blame then they risked losing compensation from the federal government and so the enquiries were rigged to absolve Lovell (who I think is chiefly to blame) and heap it all on Saltonstall.

 

Q

I have started to write my own book (fictional story) set in and around 1860 in Victorian England. In particular I am interested in research material that would help me with authenticity with regard to the Royal Navy/Channel fleet etc. I have bought lots of old books from second hand book stores on the subject and have researched old copies of the London Gazette. However is there, in your opinion, an expert on that period that I could possibly contact?  They might be an academic or whatever but any pointers in that direction would be very much appreciated. As for your comments above being unfriendly or whatever; I don't blame you one bit for trying to protect yourself from potential legal action and I am afraid it is the world we live in.
Kind Regards
Roger Baker

Submitted January 9, 2013

A

There almost certainly is an expert, probably several, but alas, I don’t know who they are. My best suggestion would be to contact the curator of HMS Warrior in Portsmouth Harbour. He or she will probably be immensely helpful and have a wealth of knowledge and resources. Good luck!

Q

Hi   I much enjoy your books   is there to be a book 7 or even more as Uhtred's quest for Bettannburgh does not seem to be complete  ...yet ?

John G. Jones

 

When is the next book due after death of kings thank you
Jeff Higgins

 

Hi, Have you written the final book about Uhtred yet, I have been searching bookshelves, internet etc to no avail. Both my husband and I grew up in the Thundersley/Benfleet area and have been fascinated by the ancient history of the area, it has brought to life the sometimes boring history lessons at school. I played as a child in the woods on Bread and Cheese Hill and am very farmiliar with the tides and mud in the Benfleet Creek/Canvey Island area. In the last book so far in the series you said "Uhtred will live to fight another day" I do hope so.
Thank you for some very enjoyable hours reading and discussing the locations in the stories.
Best wishes - Judy Coombs - Australia

 

HI,
You may remember me (amongst others I suspect) asking you "What happened to Uhtred" The suggestion was that there might be an answer in Autumn 2012.
I think that 1356 might have got in the way,
Here's hoping !!
Kind regards and a Happy New Year,
Peter.

Submitted January 9, 2013

A

I am writing the next book of Uhtred's tale now.  Hope to see it ready for publication by September 2013!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,

Is Sharpe's Ransom available as an e-book yet? I searched the internet and itunes bookstore but can only find a hard copy duo with Sharpe's Christmas, which I have just read as an e-book. By the way, I love Richard Sharpe and think it a great shame that Sean Bean didn't wear a black wig and fake scar for the role.

Why couldn't Richard go to London and take his money back from Jane, and what happened to her and her baby? I expected her to turn up with a French or Spanish officer who Richard would have to despatch to either heaven or hell. I promise not sue you if you use that idea in a future Sharpe book so be sure to keep this e-mail as evidence.

Many thanks for hours of enjoyable reading.

Vicki

Submitted January 2, 2013

A

I don't believe Sharpe's Ransom is available in ebook form.

Jane?  I honestly don't know what happened to Jane Sharpe or her child, but I suspect nothing happy . . .

Q

Hi Bernard,

Sorry to bug again. But I am wondering whether you have any news on the Azincourt movie being made from your book. I have scoured the internet and can find little.

I thought it may be easier to ask an inside source.

Any information you have would be appreciated. I am really looking forward to a historically accurate film "finally" that depicts armour the way it should be. Have had to put up with fantasy really. Don't know of any decent films with historical armour from the medieval period in a historical setting

regards,
Sean

Submitted January 2, 2013

A

Sorry, I'm afraid I don't know any more about than you do!

Q

I'm a big fan and have gone through multiple softcover copies of the Sharpe series over the years.  Sharpe and Patrick are good friends who generally are not far out of reach.

Is there a complete hard cover set out there?

Thanks for all your great books... They have brought me a lot of joy

Tom Boyle

Submitted January 2, 2013

A

Thank you.  I imagine you can put together a complete set of hardback copies of the Sharpe books if you are willing to search the used book market.  Maybe the publishers will re-release the complete set once the series is finished, but it's not done yet!

Q

Hi Bernard,

Having read some of the other messages, I now know you do not yet have a title for you next Saxon book, and I was wanting to know how you come up with the names of your books? Do you have any idea before you start? Half way through?

Thanks for your time, BIG fan

A. Stockwell (BYM)

Submitted January 2, 2013

A

I dream up titles all the time I'm writing and just hope the one I like passes the Taste Police at the publishers!